. >> reporter: and hope is fading that congress can get a deal done before tax hikes and spending cuts kick in january 1st. >> i am not optimistic. >> reporter: even congressional leaders are cemental. >> the american people have a right to be very upset with this congress. >> reporter: president obama invited pelosi, john boehner and harry reid to the white house this afternoon for a fiscal cliff summit. >> here we are five days from the new year. and we might finally start talking. >> reporter: today's white house meeting might be the last chance to come to an agreement. that's because it takes time for a bill to work its way through both chambers of congress. >> i don't know time-wise how it can happen now. >> reporter: under senate rules the only way a bill could make its way through the procedural hurdles in time is if every senator agrees not to slow the progress. the senate will be